Sworded Affair

Chapter 134: I’m a Candle

[Class selected!

Half-Demon Homunculus: Level 1 Chandler

Note: You have selected a non-combat class!

Your durability will not improve with level ups.

Proceed? Y/N]

Emma powered on through without a worry; she already had a combat form after all, and was eager to gain as much as she could from her hour of doubled EXP.

[Class confirmed.

Gained Trait - I’m a Candle: A modern understanding of non-magical candles.

Black Candle consumed; you now know how to make Black Candles.

Select one out of three starting candles:

1) Destined: Points towards its maker, always.

2) Hallowed: Repels beings of evil alignment or intent.

3) Sanguine: Causes those nearby to bleed.]

Emma gave the selection a quick glance before dismissing it; she had more to worry about right now, namely the fact that the chain of notifications had stopped.

I’m glad I didn’t go for the more complicated Classes; as I feared, the chosen Class doesn’t come with any starting resources. Luckily, candles don’t take much to make.

“Dad, where’s the candle wax stored?”

“We ran out at home, but there should be plenty at the main storehouse, near the motor pool.”

Emma had already shed her homunculus by the time Noah finished his sentence. She didn’t bother using the door, instead opting to sprint straight through the fireplace whilst intangible, thus taking as direct a route as possible to the storehouse. A pair of guards stood outside the entrance, rifles in hand, which helped Emma find the right building in record time. To their credit, they were both awake and alert despite the late hour, honing in on her location before she made it within ten feet of them. Thankfully, neither of them seemed inclined to challenge Emma, instead stepping aside with respectful nods. Whether that was because of Noah’s authority or her own deeds, Emma didn’t know; either way, she wasn’t about to look a gift horse in the mouth.

But whilst entry had been smooth, it only took a few steps inside the warehouse for Emma to realise her luck had run out. Because whilst there was still a measure of light beneath the evening sky, the inside of the building was pitch black, and she had no candles on hand; an irony that wasn’t lost to the aspiring chandler. Emma did her best to press on, which sadly didn’t amount to much; whilst sight could adapt to low-light conditions, a total absence of light was another matter entirely. After her third time tripping over a crate left in the open as she moved between pallets by touch, Emma was about ready to do the walk of shame back home, before she stepped on something altogether softer, prompting a startled bark, and then she could see.

[Mr. Fox - Level 3 Thief]

Not the room; no, that was still completely dark to her, but a very familiar and welcome name tag given the circumstances.

“How’d you beat me here?” Emma asked, before shaking her head. “No, that’s not important. Can you find something for me?”

“Sure, just don’t tell anyone I was here. And get off my tail!”

Mentally noting that Mr. Fox had enough awareness now to speak, and thus be understood by Babble Fish, Emma lifted her foot, letting her fellow intruder remove his bushy tail from her immediate area.

“I’m looking for wax: petrochemical, beeswax, or plant-based, I don’t care, I just need some wax.”

“Is that all? Easy peasy, I can smell that junk from here.”

Mr. Fox headed off on his errand, leaving Emma standing in place, listening to the soft steps and rustling fabric marking his passage. His movement was mostly silent, barring one occasion where a faint thump was followed by a high-pitched whine, making Emma think that Mr. Fox wasn’t entirely as confident as he’d pretended. Nonetheless, he did return less than five minutes later, tossing a heavy bag at Emma’s feet.

[Paraffin Wax (1 KG) stored.]

Grabbing it with Eden’s Echo rather than fumble in the dark, Emma quickly retraced her steps, waving the guards goodbye before sprinting back towards her house. All in all, she made it back having burned only ten minutes, which was still longer than she’d have liked. Her first stop upon arrival was to head for the kitchen; only to find that Noah had already laid out a dozen glass containers of various sizes on the counter.

“Thanks Dad!”

With containers already sorted, Emma changed course, heading instead to the dining room in order to secure the final piece of the puzzle and enable her to make a functional candle wick.

[Toothpicks stored.

Toothpicks withdrawn.

Paraffin Wax (1KG) withdrawn.]

Returning to the kitchen, Emma laid out all the pieces needed. A quick dip into the bag of wax, courtesy of Eden’s Echo, ensured an even coating on the toothpicks, allowing a controlled rate of burn when used as wicks. Dropping wax-coated toothpicks onto the counter for later, Emma wasted no time filling a pot with water, placing it on the stove to boil. Whilst that was underway, she filled a second, smaller stainless steel vessel with half the bag of wax, kneading it throughout to get a smooth consistency. There was no thermometer available, so Emma simply stuck her armoured hand into the boiling pot to go by feeling.

[Your father can conjure precise, temperature controlled magical flames.]

“...Perhaps, but this is my first time making candles, so I’d rather do it the traditional way.”

Emma fooled nobody with that answer, but Edith didn’t press her on it, instead falling silent once more. Bereft of conversation, Emma’s attention turned wholly to her hand, which was gradually getting warmer.

[-1 Anima]

She took her hand out of the pot after the first point of damage, deeming it warm enough - she didn’t need it at boiling point, not for paraffin. Turning the heat down to a medium, Emma placed the smaller container prepared beforehand into the hot water, then placed both hands in to knead the wax.

[You prepared wax for the first time. 20 (40) EXP gained!]